Tribal precautions for coronavirus COVID-19
As the spread of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to develop, it is important to stay calm and informed. Please review the following information carefully to make sure you’re taking the right steps for your employees, volunteers, and clients. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your broker or our office directly with any additional questions and concerns.
Recommendations and Precautions
Here are some simple recommendations and precautions. These are based, in part, on recommendations from the CDC. According to the CDC, while the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health risk. These recommendations and precautions would be the same for the “cold and flu season” regardless of the emerging COVID-19 unpleasantness:
- Keep calm. Do not allow fear and panic to control decisions for yourself and your families. Choose your news wisely and seek updates and information from public health organizations such as the World Health Organization (www.who.int) or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov).
- Develop a plan. Prepare a plan with your leadership team for working remotely if you or your team is at imminent risk of COVID-19 exposure. Make sure that you have technology solutions and digital connectivity to allow you to support our customers and perform the essential functions of your job.
- Get your flu shot. It is currently influenza and respiratory disease (also known as “cold and flu”) season and the CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed. While the flu shot will not keep you from contracting COVID-19, it may prevent the pain and discomfort of influenza and generate antibodies and immune system responses that can ward off dangerous post-secondary infections.
- If you’re sick, stay home! While we all salute individuals that feel compelled to soldier on despite fever, cough, runny nose, nausea, etc., they are not helping themselves or anyone else. We urge you to stay home, call in sick, and get some rest. Do not spread or transmit your misery to everyone else.
- Insist on good office hygiene. Please exercise courtesy and good office hygiene and demand it of your fellow teammates. Clean and wipe down breakroom spaces, bathroom counters, toilet seats and other public areas. We should all expect and demand this basic courtesy regardless of COVID-19. Now, with heightened concerns about the spread of viruses and bacteria, exercise diligence in keeping office spaces clean and sanitary.
- Wash your hands frequently. The surgical, sanitary masks will certainly help contain airborne contaminants, but the most common means of transmission is from hand-to-hand contact. Think about doorknobs, rails, faucets, mobile phone screens, etc. You cannot police the hygiene of everyone around you, but you can protect yourself better by washing your hands after using the bathroom, before eating or preparing food or while in large, crowded places (like airports, stadiums, government buildings, etc.). Hand sanitizer is a good choice as well.
Additional Resources
For more information, please regularly check the following websites:
WHO
WHO’s primary role is to direct international health within the United Nations’ system and to lead partners in global health responses.
CDC Works 24/7 As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health, safety, and security threats.